AF-S NIKKOR
600mm f/4G ED VR
A high-speed, high-performance prime lens for dedicated wildlife and sports photographers features Nikon’s VR image stabilization and Nano Crystal Coat.
$10,299.95*SRPSRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
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Supplied Accessories
- HK-35 slip-on lens hood
- CT-607 trunk case
- Slip-in filter holder
- 52-mm screw-in NC filter
- Monopod collar
*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.
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AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR
12
12
An outstanding piece of glass
I have tried an after market brand lens in this class of lens and it it was just soft plain and simple, but I mounted this to my Really Right Stuff Full Gimbal head and tripod and instant success with sharp vivid focus thanks to the VR and fast Auto Focus this lens has teamed up with my D3x, I can't wait to try this out on the wild life this upcoming spring.
Don't let the weight fool you, this is not a lens that can be carried all day by the average hobbyist, take care in planning your shooting trips with this lens and how you will pack it in and out of your shooting location and take care in selecting tripods and heads to mount this lens it will save you hours of grief in trashing photos because of unwanted shake usually caused by the shooter, but at faster shutter speeds above 1/125th it is a dream to use, not saying you cant shoot at slower shutter speeds, but a good support system and cable release will yield better results.
But if you want to reach out and take in the wildlife at a safer distant and not put the critters under strain so they will allow you to stay within there presence much longer then this is the lens to buy.
January 13, 2012
This lens is a dream.
The Nikkor 600mm is a real workhorse....easy to use, pin-point sharp, and reliable. It's super fast and always delivers ! I also love the 500mm and the 200-400mm is amazing as well!
October 4, 2011
Incredible
I wanted to shoot birds and wildlife and I looked at the Nikon 500 mm along with the Nikon 200 mm to 400 mm and didn't think that they would give me the reach I wanted.
I have had the 600 mm for a couple of weeks now and it has knocked me out with the razor sharp pictures it makes. The AF is fast and the Image Stabilization will let you shoot at shutter speeds that should be impossible.
the 600 is a huge piece of glass that tells you every time you pick it up that it is a substantially built device. I have been shooting mostly handheld and after several hours of hoisting it around you will feel it the next day.
But its worth it every ounce when as it makes pictures that are simply amazing.
June 16, 2011
Incredible! Thats all I can say!
This lens is incredible, the clarity and speed of focusing is second to none. Quality throughout but you better have strong arms and a sturdy tripod. You also need to have a lot of time available because everyone wants to know what it is, who you work for and can they look through it! This lens has allowed me to capture images of wildlife that I would have never been able to obtain with other smaller lenses. I also photograph a lot of military aircraft shows. The speed of the AF-S focusing allows me to track the aircraft and on occasion be in close enough to see the rivets on the wings! That's amazing!
May 5, 2011
Nikon's Best Long Lens
I bought my 600mm VR with the sole purpose of taking photographs of wildlife. PERIOD. If you are planning on hoofing through the bush, and you want to have this lens ready for that once in a life time shot of Bigfoot running through the forest, you may want to re-think your equipment needs. This beast is heavy. I'm a big guy, and 50 lb. camera backpacks on all day hikes, in the mountains is normal for me. If you use the strap it will be cutting into your neck in no time. I made foam guard for mine which helps. Then, you have the massive size. If you are in the bush, a mental debate will rage. Do you take the 500.00 dollar lens hood off? keep the lens cover on? or streamline it and risk scratching that large piece of glass at the front? I haven't checked but I bet its darn expensive to replace. The other option is to have it mounted on your tripod, and hang it over your shoulder. I have seen this done with large lenses, and, well, let's say I lost the courage to do it, after seeing another photographer forget to lock the gimbal down and have his 400mm lens slide out. I prefer several configurations. I use the shoulder strap, and cradle the lens / camera in my arms. This takes the weight off the neck a bit. When I am hiking to a site and don't expect to use it for a while, I disassemble the setup and store it in the back pack (Airport Addict is my favorite pack).
Ideally, this lens is best suited for what I refer to as 'ambush photography'. Basically, you wait for the subject to come anywhere near you.
I have found this lens to be ridiculously razor sharp, but it takes time to learn how to use it correctly. I was warned by the pro at the store where I bought it, to have patience with the learning curve. It took me a long time to figure out proper technique on using this without getting a fuzzy picture. Moose Peterson's videos saved me more frustration.
Even with mirror lockup on my D200 I found I couldn't just set it on the tripod and get a sharp picture. I need to hold it firmly, even while on my Gitzo 5541LS / Wimberley WH200.. If you are planning on slinging this thing by hand, forget it. Few people are that strong. This lens is made for tripod photography. Which brings me to the VR II tripod feature. Words can't describe how nice this is when you have the VR on, while using a tripod. Sometimes you will need to drop the speed or raise the ISO for low light. The tripod VR feature will be your new best friend.
This lens locks on to subjects fast, VERY fast. Hummingbirds are my favorite subject and I have no problems with the focus. The VR works great and the whole unit is quiet. Hummingbirds are nervous to begin with, and this lens lets me shoot multiple pictures without scaring them away.
The box that the lens comes in is impractical for slugging along on a hike, but excellent for airline travel. (a word of caution, put it in a box / case / suitcase. A big box with NIKON emblazoned on the side is asking for trouble).
I have found that panning can be tricky, since the lens has a very narrow view. By the time you find that rare bird in the view finder it can be gone. I mounted a red dot hunting scope on the top and have no problems pointing and shooting without looking in the view finder on the camera.
The lens knows what to do when focusing.
If you are the type that is never satisfied, and want a teleconverter to make this a >1200mm, I wouldn't go any more than the 1.4x tele. unless you have high ISO / low speed capabilities in the camera, or are close enough for a flash.
Depending on light conditions I prefer to not use the 1.4x tele and take the photo anyway. You would be amazed how much you can zoom in and still get a sharp photo, while using just software.
To summarize: It's FAST, it's HEAVY, it's SHARP, It's NIKON and its worth every penny I paid for it. I love it.
April 14, 2011
12 Questions | 13 Answers
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AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR
1 answer
Is the Nikon 600mm suitable for African safari use off of a bean bag rest on a Jeep mount?
I just came back from an African safari. A 200mm Nikon lens with a 2x teleconverter was too short. I ended up using a Sigma 150-500mm lens much of the time on my D 700 body. Has anyone tried using the Nikon 600mm off of a bean bag rest mounted to the rollbar on a Range Rover? Is the lens too large and heavy to manupilate on the truck? All shots are taken with the truck stopped. I have a D 4 body on back order. Has anyone had first hand experience comparing picture quality from the Sigma 150-500 to the Nikon 500mm or 600mm lens?
1 month, 1 week ago
by
Bob
Garden City, New York
Location :
Garden City, New York
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 6-10 years
Experience: Less than a month
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
Please click on the link below for the lens simulator; it will help you to make the decision on what lens you need.http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Produ...
3 weeks, 4 days ago
by
Anonymous
1 answer
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Answer:
Yes
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